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Mercedes has brought an updated battery specification to the Austrian Grand Prix in a bid to address the reliability problems that have cost it and its customers major points this season, according to The Race. Kimi Antonelli said the new spec has âupdates to improve the durability and reliability of the packageâ, adding: âItâs not really about performance.â
Pierre Gasly says he âcompletely understandsâ why rivals feel a sense of âinjusticeâ after the stewards cancelled his Monaco Grand Prix pit-lane speeding penalties and restored him to third place, with McLaren and Red Bull appealing the decision. Pierre Gasly said: "From McLaren, Oscar, George's situation, I completely understand that for their own performance â I've got nothing to do with their results â but they probably feel some sort of injustice from what's been done to them. But I do think if you can correct a mistake which was done, it's the right way of approaching it, to [go] back on it."
Fernando Alonso says speculation about him moving to another team is ânormalâ in a difficult period for Aston Martin, insisting his commitment to the project goes beyond how long he keeps driving for them. Alonso said: "There are always rumours. We've been very badly treated by the outside world and it's normal. We are underperforming, we are in a bad moment and when the summer break comes, there are always rumours. There are rumours in the top teams, there are rumours also in our case because we are underperforming. But, as I said, my commitment with Aston Martin is beyond my driving time. I believe in this project and we have the right people."
Lewis Hamilton said he is not getting carried away by talk of a 2026 title challenge and believes his experience will help him keep focused as Ferrari look to take the fight to Mercedes. Hamilton said: "In terms of the championship, I'm not letting that stuff... I've been here before, I know what I have to do. There's a long way to go. We're not arriving at this weekend thinking about the championship. We're thinking about this weekend, executing the best we can."
Lewis Hamilton says he suffered a neck disc injury after hitting the wall âvery hardâ in testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last year. Hamilton said: "It is private, but I hit the wall very hard last year in testing. I knocked out one of the discs in my neck, protruding into the nerve, so I couldn't do a lot for like nine weeks. I was having chiropractors every day, physio every day, I couldn't sleep, a lot of painkillers, had to get injections, I did everything I could to try to fix it, so that's what I was trying to live with, basically, which is not easy in a seated position that you're sitting in."
Oscar Piastri says McLaren will not race an âexperimentalâ rear wing at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the part set to be trialled in Friday practice only. Piastri said: "No, we won't race it. I believe it's on Lando [Norris'] car tomorrow. It's to test out; it's not ready to race at the moment. Obviously we've seen some of the creative solutions [from rival teams], and they don't come without their challenges, clearly. It won't be raced, but useful to try it out."
Toto Wolff says the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a âreality checkâ for Mercedes and that the team need to respond at the Austrian Grand Prix if they want to win both championships. Wolff said: "Barcelona acted as a benchmark for our current performance and, having won the first six races, offered a reality check. Others have gained ground quickly and we need to respond. We are in a fight for both championships, but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season."
George Russell says Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are a âhuge threatâ to Mercedesâ hopes of winning the 2026 Formula 1 titles after Hamilton beat him to victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Russell said: "It's beautiful and that's where he is at the moment and for sure, he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently, but Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."
Oscar Piastri says McLaren have âa bit of a deficit everywhereâ and need to bring upgrades to close on Mercedes and Ferrari, after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Piastri said: "I think for us as a team, we know that we're lacking performance and I think Canada in the race and especially Monaco kind of highlighted where some of our struggles lie, which we're trying to fix, but we have a bit of a deficit everywhere. We don't really have any clear strengths, but we're not kind of terribly bad anywhere either. To catch Mercedes and we'll see whether Ferrari maintain their form as well, we need to put some new bits on the car. We need to make it faster."
Kimi Antonelli says his Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix retirement was caused by a sudden temperature spike in a component that triggered a battery glitch. Antonelli said: "It's true that a component suddenly experienced a sharp temperature spike, which caused the battery to glitch. But in Canada the conditions were completely different, much cooler."
Kimi Antonelli says his Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix retirement was caused by a sudden temperature spike in a component that triggered a battery glitch. Antonelli said: "It's true that a component suddenly experienced a sharp temperature spike, which caused the battery to glitch. But in Canada the conditions were completely different, much cooler."
Fernando Alonso says he has not yet decided whether he will race in Formula 1 next year and expects to make that call around the summer break, while insisting his commitment to Aston Martin will remain even if he stops driving. Alonso said: "I have not taken any decisions. I will wait until probably summer break, which is August. And after summer is Zandvoort, Monza. I think around that time I will probably decide what to do next year. But I still love Formula 1. I'm committed to this team also. So even if I don't race, my commitment with the team and with the project is the same."
Fernando Alonso says he is surprised by Formula 1 rivalsâ pace of upgrades this season as Aston Martin waits to introduce a bigger package for its AMR26 rather than bringing regular smaller changes. Alonso said: "But apparently there is no money to bring upgrades, unlimited upgrades like the other teams do! It is surprising to see the FIA page on Friday every race - because maybe they [other teams] have the money machine in the minus one [floor] in the factory."
Oscar Piastri says Formula 1 risks setting a âtricky precedentâ if drivers and teams start expecting penalties to be revisited after races, after an incorrect pit-lane speed-limit measurement at the Monaco Grand Prix led to Pierre Gaslyâs speeding penalties being rescinded. Piastri said: "I kind of agree with Pierre's point that if there's something that can be corrected, I can definitely see why it can be, but it also sets a bit of a tricky precedent, because you could just end up with everybody not serving their penalties and then arguing about it for weeks after, which is not what anyone wants to see."
âŞď¸ George Russell on Ferrari's upgrade push: âI definitely think [Barcelona] was a reality check. Ferrari have had a great chassis all season, but their power unit was behind us, quite a bit behind us. But they are bringing quite a lot of upgrades, we have only brought one, they have brought many so we need to keep pushing as every time a team brings parts, they make a step forward. âFor sure, [Hamilton] is a big threat. Ferrari are a big threat. Ferrari feel like they are coming, and Lewis is at the forefront of that. The more people you are going head to head with, thatâs competition. When we were karting, there were three, four, five drivers competing for wins and that is how F1 should be. I am looking forward to it.â On his own form: âSpain was a weekend I was very happy about on Friday and Saturday, as it had been a tough run of form for me - but things outside my control and inside my control. I need to keep on making some small evolutions with the car and the set-up to get the most out of it.â On Mercedes team orders: âThe win for the team is the priority, it doesnât matter which driver. We need to be smart as team mates, and the team wants to win the race - it doesnât matter if it is myself or Kimi.â đ´ Nico Hulkenberg on the European leg: âWe are in the European leg now, some circuits coming up that I enjoy, Silverstone coming up that is one of my favourite tracks. Just give it my best and try and take something home on Sundays. The first five, six races were challenging in many areas but we have battled through, and just havenât got the reward yet.â
đ Oscar Piastri on McLaren's chances this weekend: On a personal level, we have a good understanding as to why the race in Barcelona was such a struggle for me. As a team, Ferrari took a big step forward, Mercedes are still the benchmark and Iâm hearing that Red Bull have things here as well. So, it wonât be easy for us. To do it on merit or pure pace is a bit of a stretch.â On McLarenâs season so far: âVery up and down, probably a bit more down than it has been up [this season]. There have been glimpses of good pace, there have been situations where we have taken advantage of things and maximised results. For us as a team, we know we are lacking performance. Canada and Monaco highlighted where some of our problems lie. To catch Mercedes - we need to put some new bits on the car, make it faster, and do it quicker than everybody else. We know we need to improve.â On McLarenâs hopes of closing the gap: âI think things are changing so quickly, everyone is learning about their cars every time we drive. Maybe we can get close again, but we are relying at the moment on the others getting it a bit wrong, or things going our way.â On whether McLaren can still win this year: âThe odds are stacked against us. But last year was a good showcase of how quickly things can change, and it is a long season. So, we shouldnât count ourselves out.â đľ Pierre Gasly on Alpineâs season so far: âThe team so far has done a good job in terms of reliability, they have been faultless so far. The car performance, we can fight in the points consistently every weekend. The last few weekends have been more complicated, but we are still there. I would like to see us catching the train ahead of usâŚâ đľ Isack Hadjar on Red Bullâs upgrades: âWe have been the fourth fastest team so far, so on pure pace, being on the podium would be a step forwards.â
The FIA has approved a proposal to remove term limits for its president, ending the previous cap of three four-year terms and allowing Mohammed Ben Sulayem to remain in office beyond 12 years. BBC Sport reported FIA member clubs backed the change at the general assembly in Macau by 90.71%, though an FIA spokesperson said the organisation was still finalising the vote count. Other statute changes were also passed, including stricter eligibility rules for presidential candidates and an extended deadline for submitting vice-presidents, with former FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid warning the moves risk concentrating power.
Fernando Alonso says some of the social media criticism aimed at Aston Martin has gone âborderline abuseâ after the teamâs poor start to the season, with just one point scored in seven rounds. Alonso said: "There is all this social media, and all these things, and jokes that you can put on ourselves, probably that's borderline abuse on social media, that we talk sometimes that we are not happy with our position. But we are hard workers, and Honda are hard workers, and Aston Martin, we are a thousand people of hard workers, who go Monday to Sunday, to work eight hours, to fix our problems; and the problems will be fixed. It's a matter of time."
Ferrari power unit technical director Enrico Gualtieri says the power unit update Ferrari are introducing at the Austrian Grand Prix is ânot a major stepâ and will not, by itself, change the competitive order. Gualtieri said: "As mentioned, this update is not a major step, and it will not, on its own, change the competitive order. What it does show is the attitude of the team and our technical partners: to push continuously and to make the most of every opportunity to improve our package."
Helmut Marko says Mercedes' reliability issues could cost it in the title fight, even though he views the team as the favourite under Formula 1's new regulations. Helmut Marko said: "The new regulations clearly put Mercedes in the favourite's role. However, they've already had their second engine failure, which is unusual for them."
Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara said the Aston Martin power unit supplier is planning only one 2026 engine upgrade around the summer, despite being allocated two FIA ADUO upgrade opportunities for this season. Orihara said: "We are planning to introduce a new engine around summer. Then I don't think we have another step in this year."
Esteban Ocon says he is relaxed about speculation over his Haas seat and insists he has the teamâs backing, with the Frenchman out of contract at the end of the 2026 season. Ocon said: "I've got the trust of the team, I've got the trust of Ayao [Komatsu]. I'm focused with the team to try and get the things that we have in control better. So I'm chill on my side. People can say whatever the fuck they want, to be honest. I don't give a shit too much."
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